Dining service system

Abstract

A dining service system for aiding a waiter or waitress in carrying meal service implements. The dining service assembly of the dining service system includes a serving tray assembly and a belt-clip. Some versions may additionally include a lanyard-necklace. The serving tray assembly includes a top-tray, a base, at least two vertical members and a handle. The handle is structured and arranged to be held by a user to support at least a partial load of the serving tray assembly and of the meal service implements while using the dining service assembly to serve patrons. The belt-clip is structured and arranged to accept and support the serving tray assembly such that the belt-clip carries part of the weight of the serving tray assembly and the items carried by the tray assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to the field of food and beverage devices and more specifically relates to a dining service system.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Waiters and waitresses often have the need to carry multiple food service items at the same time in order to provide efficient service for their customers. This often requires the use of a tray to carry such items. However, these trays can be heavy and cumbersome. Generally, a waiter or waitress will carry the tray up and over his / her head, which can be awkward. In some instances, the waiter or waitress must...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known food and beverage device art, the present invention provides a novel dining service system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide an apparatus and method for carrying items of food and drink, at a location where food and drink may be served (including, but not limited to restraints, sporting events, family outings, etc.) while providing improved comfort and reducing the required effort and subsequent fatigue to carry such items.

[0012]The top-tray is structured and arranged to be held by a user to support meal service implements. In certain embodiments, the tray-perimeter of the top-tray may comprise a lip to prevent the meal service implements from sliding from the serving tray assembly. In some embodiments, the tray-perimeter may be round in shape to maximize available surface area of the top tray for carrying the meal service implements. In other embodiments, the tray-perimeter may be square to aid in the storage and stackability of multiple serving tray assemblies. As such, the base-perimeter of the base may also be round, or in the alternative, square, to match the either square or round shape of the tray-perimeter. Other shapes may apply such as oval, rectangular and the like.

[0013]Embodiments of the serving tray assembly may include a tray-top-surface which comprises a non-slip surface to prevent the meal service implements from sliding from the serving tray assembly. Additional embodiments may include a tray-top-surface that is heat resistant to reduce the chances of damage to the serving tray assembly when hot items are place upon it. Other embodiments may include a tray-top-surface that is absorbent to catch spills and condensation from the items placed upon it. Further embodiments may include a tray-top-surface which has indentations to accept and retain cups or other similar vessels. Other embodiments may include a secondary tray, removable from the tray-top-surface, which may include a grid-like pattern to retain cups or other similar vessels. The grid-like pattern is structured and arranged to prevent a plurality of cups or similar liquid-holding vessels from tipping, falling over, or spilling when the serving tray assembly is carried by the user.

[0014]In a preferred embodiment, the belt-clip is affixable to a waist area of the user during use and the belt-clip is structured and arranged to accept and support the tray perimeter of the top-tray such that the belt-clip carries a portion of a load of the meal service implements. The belt-clip may further include a non-slip surface to prevent the tray-perimeter of the top-tray from sliding when the tray-perimeter is supported by the belt-clip.

[0015]In some embodiments, the tray assembly may further comprise a fastener and a lanyard-necklace. The fastener provides the capability to couple to the lanyard-necklace to the tray assembly such that the lanyard-necklace can be placed around the neck of the user to support at least a portion of load of the meal service implements and the serving tray assembly.

[0016]The base-bottom surface may comprise comprises a non-slip surface to prevent the serving tray assembly from sliding when the serving tray assembly is set down on a table, counter or similar surface by the user. In some embodiments the tray-perimeter and the base-perimeter may be the same diameter dimension. In other embodiments, the tray-perimeter may have a larger diameter than the base-perimeter, so that the serving tray assembly is adequately stable when in use, easy to carry and set down.

Problems solved by technology

However, these trays can be heavy and cumbersome.

Generally, a waiter or waitress will carry the tray up and over his / her head, which can be awkward.

In some instances, the waiter or waitress must carry and hold the tray for long periods of time, which is difficult with a traditional serving tray.

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